Hamas is currently confronting an existential challenge it has never faced since its inception. The population is utterly worn out, confidence is deteriorating, and the exhausted Gazan public is no longer lauding the mouqawamah (resistance) but asking instead, "where is the bread". Local militias – including armed tribes, rebellious factions, and even former Hamas operatives – are defying the organization, weakening its authority, and triggering internal conflicts. Hamas, once the strip's iron-fisted ruler, must now handle this through the Wahdat Sahm, its Gestapo, facing a double threat: internal collapse and vengeance from external militias.

The Gazans, on their part, are moving in great numbers toward the Al-Mawasi area. These convoys also symbolize the break from Hamas, indicating a profound shift. An increasing number of citizens now view the organization not as the "protector of the nation" but as a "curse". Many are willing to take the risk with Israel if it provides hope for genuine change.

Simultaneously, the Arab bloc is uniting around a clear objective – to conclude the Gaza episode and bring back stability. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and even Qatar, have started to indicate that "the resistance" has turned into a strategic liability. The damage caused by the Houthis to commercial trade, the significant economic expenditures, and the concern about the potential for another regional conflict all contribute to a new consensus. Hamas is no longer perceived as part of the solution but as the primary barrier to achieving it.

Trump, undeniably one of Israel's greatest allies in history who has stood by Israel in the most challenging times against the entire world, but in collaboration with Steve Witkoff, perceives Gaza as a venue for a deal, not necessarily a dangerous minefield. Both are real estate professionals who operate on the belief that when an asset declines, one merely needs to purchase it at a low price, refurbish it, and sell it for a profit. This mindset, however, is ill-suited for the Middle East. Here, the "refurbishment" involves a deep psychological transformation, and the assets are not lucrative, as the foundations are built on beliefs and blood. Consequently, his dangerously naive declaration that "Hamas wants lasting peace" reflects a fundamental misunderstanding. In the world of real estate professionals, there is no consideration for the Islamic concept of taqiyya: a calculated deception for survival that allows Hamas to feign compromise while actively regrouping.

The actual deal right now is not between Israel and Hamas, but between Washington and itself. Will the US uphold the unequivocal 20-point plan it authored, which received international support, or will it gnaw at its own tail like a cornered animal. The pressure for a "compromise," combined with the vast Qatari funding and the appeal of a "historic deal," will achieve their purpose. Hamas is experiencing a historic nadir. Therefore, it currently appears that Hamas might accept the "soft" components of the agreement in part, enough to claim an internal victory but without relinquishing its arms. Israel will be compelled to grant substantial relief and concessions in exchange for the deal's implementation. The remaining factors depend on US pressure and the disorganized dynamic on the Gazan street.

In the end, Trump may discover yet again that the Middle East is not an Atlantic City casino available for a contract closing, but rather a mysterious, deeply ancient archaeological site complete with ancient labyrinths and secrets. The hidden elements outweigh the known ones: blood, faith, and its own unique tribal laws. Here, an "agreement" serves only as a preface to a new stage, rather than the conclusion of the entire narrative.

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Dennis Brodetzky, general manager of Blueground's Israel branch, describes the company's focus on technology. "We're the easy way. You go on the map, you click a few buttons, you sign the contract, and it's done. That's how it's supposed to work in 2025," Brodetzky claims.

The Israeli operation, which launched in August 2024, currently employs 11 people and manages 99 apartments with plans to reach 100 units soon. "We add one hundred apartments per year. So it's our first year. We have 99 apartments. We're looking for our 100th," Brodetzky said.

Clientelle

The service addresses multiple housing scenarios that traditional leases cannot accommodate. "Maybe you want to check out a neighborhood because your children need to go to this particular school. You want to see whether it goes well. Or you may be renovating your apartment, and then you need to live somewhere temporary," Brodetzky explained. "There are lots of life scenarios where it's much easier and smarter to get a temporary solution than look for permanent, and take a risk that it won't fit." Brodetzky described a scenario of those who "live a couple months here, live a couple months there. So what would you do if you live in two countries? There was no good solution."

Corporate clients comprise approximately 50% of Blueground's Israel bookings, while new immigrants account for roughly one-third of demand. "I think it is something that is appealing to Olim. When you come from a different country and you're not really sure about the neighborhood, you're not sure about the job, you're not sure about the school that your kids will go to, you're not sure about the apartment, or whether you're going to stay there for a long time. So with all this uncertainty, normally, you'll have to just pick an apartment and stay there." Brodetzky recounted, "When I made Aliyah like 25 years ago, that was very stressful for us."

Three-tier revenue model

Blueground generates revenue through partnerships with property owners, converting vacant units into furnished apartments while ensuring a guaranteed rental income. Property owners receive higher rental rates compared to unfurnished units, while Blueground handles furniture installation, maintenance, and tenant management. "Basically, we'll rent those apartments from the landlords. We do the renovation and then we rent it out to the tenants on flexible terms," Brodetzky explained. "The person who's renting never speaks to the landlord. He speaks to us. So we are professional landlord," he said.

The company operates an invite-only partner network for property managers with 10 or more units, targeting longer-term stays of one month or more. Real estate brokers earn commissions through three channels: representing renters, sharing referral codes, and submitting qualifying properties in prime locations.

Blueground for Business provides corporate housing to over 4,000 companies. The division claims 30-50% cost savings compared to hotels for business travelers staying one month or longer. The company provides corporate billing and contracts directly to businesses, rather than to individual employees. Properties come equipped with high-speed internet, smart televisions, and Bluetooth speakers as standard amenities. Each unit includes fully equipped kitchens, premium bedding, linens, and toiletries.

The company charges 12% of the first month's rent as a booking fee, plus approximately 20% markup from what it pays the landlords for the apartments. However, the markup pricing varies based on rental duration and availability. "If you stay for a year or above, that would be much cheaper than if you stay a few months. The price declines dramatically," Brodetzky noted.

Comparisons

"The regular rental market is not really competition because it's something different from us," Brodetzky said. "You need to rent an apartment in Israel, go in, sign checks, meet landlords, pay brokers, go shopping for all the furniture, call the electrical company, the internet company, and all this headache." Also, "A classic scenario that you can find in terms of Facebook marketplace is you see something good and then you get something else. With Blueground, you actually get what you see. You have a 3D tour, you have a floor plan, and you have pictures of the view from the apartment. So you won't have any surprises, like a very nice apartment, but it is next to the central bus station or something like that."

Compared to companies like Airbnb and Booking.com, "The equipment of the apartments is usually fitted for short-term stays. It costs more money because of tourism. It's more hotel-like pricing that doesn't give you a very good value for money in terms of longer stays. Our worldwide average is four months per stay."

The housing crisis in Gush Dan

The housing crisis in Gush Dan, Israel's most densely populated metropolitan area, represents one of the country's pressing economic challenges, affecting millions of residents across Tel Aviv and surrounding cities.

Price outpaces income

Housing prices in Gush Dan have increased dramatically over the past decade, with apartment costs rising significantly faster than average wages. The Tel Aviv metropolitan area, which includes cities like Ramat Gan, Givatayim, and Herzliya, has experienced some of the steepest price increases in the country. Many young professionals and families report being priced out of areas where they grew up or work.

The shortage affects both rental and purchase markets. Rental prices have climbed substantially, with many residents dedicating 40-50% of their income to housing costs, which is well above the recommended financial guidelines. First-time homebuyers face particular challenges, as down payment requirements and mortgage qualification standards have become increasingly difficult to meet. "It's very expensive. And there are always issues with quality. Even a simple apartment in Tel Aviv costs around $1 million," Brodetzky commented on the market.

Supply and demand

Limited land availability in Gush Dan creates fundamental supply constraints. The region's small geographic footprint, combined with environmental restrictions and zoning regulations, restricts new construction. Municipal approval processes for new developments often face delays, further limiting housing stock growth. Government data shows construction permits issued in the region have not kept pace with population growth and housing demand.

However, Brodetzky observes some improvement in supply. "We see a lot of new buildings coming up. They're finished. And they're for sale and or rent," he said. "The demands are the same, but the supply is much higher. They're building up, adding more floors. But the bad side of this is the density, which you could see is increasing in some areas. It's starting to be hardcore in terms of traffic. For people who have cars, Tel Aviv is crazy. Now people are moving to bikes. I hope that the light rail will help a little bit. And now they want to start building a metro, so maybe we'll see that."

Israeli authorities have implemented various measures to address the crisis, including tax policies targeting foreign buyers and investment purchases. The government has also announced plans to increase public housing construction and provide assistance programs for young couples and first-time buyers.

Crisis drives demand for flexible housing

One would think that the war between Israel and Iran would send Tel Avivians scrambling to pack and flee. Interestingly, the ongoing conflict in Israel has actually created additional demand for temporary housing solutions, particularly for apartments equipped with secure shelters. Brodetzky reported a notable increase in bookings during recent military escalations. "We saw a spike during the war with Iran," Brodetzky said. "There was a spike because of the demand for the shelters, and because people lost their apartments or had to evacuate from their apartments temporary." He noted that government accommodations fell short of meeting evacuees' needs. "The government moved people only to hotels. They did not use apartments at all. And it's not realistic to live in a 15-meter box; that's something that's very, very difficult. So people were looking for alternatives."

Additionally, Blueground's month-to-month rental model addresses specific pain points created by the housing crisis. Rising property prices and rental costs in Tel Aviv and its surrounding cities have prompted many residents to seek alternative housing arrangements. Young professionals and corporate employees increasingly seek furnished, short-term rental options rather than committing to traditional long-term leases in an expensive market. "At least one risk they could put aside is the solution to housing. They like it, they can extend. They don't like it, they can move to a different part of the city," Brodetzky said.

However, Blueground's furnished rentals typically command higher monthly rates than traditional unfurnished apartments, potentially pricing out some residents who are already struggling with housing costs in Gush Dan. The service primarily serves higher-income professionals and corporate clients rather than addressing broader affordability issues.

 Blueground's business model addresses the growing market of location-flexible professionals and companies seeking alternatives to traditional housing arrangements. The platform positions itself as an intermediary that reduces property management burdens for owners while providing move-in-ready solutions for tenants and corporate clients.

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed Wednesday morning the presence of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad on Russian soil, validating widespread speculation that President Vladimir Putin had granted political asylum to the Syrian dictator.

After ruling his country for nearly a quarter century, Assad has now joined the millions of refugees who fled Syria during its civil war, officially going into exile. But for those of us accustomed to the Syrian ruler over the years, and perhaps feeling sympathy for the tall, lanky eye doctor, the following details might change that perspective.

Russian media outlets recently reported extensively on the Assad family's assets within the Russian Federation, with their astronomical value revealing the incredible scale of the Assad regime's plunder from its citizens. According to reports, President Assad owns 18 luxury apartments in the prestigious City Capitals project, while other family members hold an additional 20 luxury units in the development. Together, the family controls substantial portions of two skyscrapers in central Moscow's financial district.

It remains unclear whether Assad plans to house family members who fled Syria's dire circumstances in these numerous apartments or intends to rent them for substantial income. Additional reports indicate Assad owns other global assets worth at least $2 billion.

Western media outlets have suggested Assad plans to retire from political life and return to his work as an ophthalmologist at hospitals in Russia and the United Arab Emirates. While the accuracy of these reports remains uncertain, given the estimated wealth the ruler has positioned outside Syria's borders, he likely won't need to work a single day for the rest of his life.

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Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi issued a formal directive to the Justice Ministry this week calling on its lawyers not to approve any real estate transactions conducted in Judea and Samaria.

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Jordan controlled the area from 1948-1967, meaning Amman allocated and registered many plots of land on behalf of local Arab residents. The documents are still legally valid to this day and are often cited by Israeli courts.

"All notaries throughout all the districts in the kingdom must cease their dealings with agencies with regards to [deals pertaining to] the state of Palestine," Safadi's directive read. "The Jordan Bar Association must clarify the issue with all lawyers and refrain from finalizing any deed of sale regarding Palestinian lands."

As a result, the Jordan Bar Association, which is known for its animosity toward Israel, issued an identical directive to its members, calling on them "not to settle any sale agreements of Palestinian land."

Jodan has a longstanding policy of banning real estate transactions in Judea and Samaria and it is therefore unclear why Safadi issues the official directive at this time. Already in 2019, Palestinian officials requested Jordan authorities to issue an official ban on such deals.

Ostensibly, the directive violates Israelis and Palestinians' freedom to trade.

For years, the PA has waged a war against its residents advertising properties to Jews. According to Palestinian law, selling real estate to a Jew is punishable by death.

Jews wishing to purchase land in Judea and Samaria often do so secretly, using Palestinian realtors who later leave the area or move abroad. The Palestinian appeal to Jordan was most likely intended to put another stumbling block in this process.

The move is especially surprising, since last July, Safadi met with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, where they announced new trade and water agreements. Just last week, Jerusalem formally agreed to sell 50 billion liters of water a year to Amman, doubling what it already supplies.

With regard to the directive, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was "being handled vis-à-vis the Jordanian government."

The pro-Israel advocacy group Ad Kan said, "The Kingdom of Jordan is harming its former Palestinian citizens who want to sell their land in Judea and Samaria at a reasonable price. This is another achievement by the Palestinian Authority in its quest for Area C, and the State of Israel does nothing.

"We call on Foreign Minister Lapid to demand that the Jordanians cancel the decision. How can the Israeli government double the amount of water it sells to Jordan while the Jordanians are interfering with Israel's internal affairs, and Israel does not even protest?"

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Despite warnings from the Shin Bet security agency and the state comptroller, a senior official from the Israeli Civil Administration that governs Judea and Samaria with knowledge of sensitive information has been kidnapped by the Palestinian Authority for a second time. This is according to an investigation by right-wing activist group Ad Kan, the details of which have been confirmed by Israel Hayom.

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Nidal al-Atari, a Palestinian who leaves near the West Bank city of Nablus, is a Defense Ministry employee tasked with examining all real-estate transactions in Judea and Samaria for the Israeli Civil Administration. Al-Atari is the right-hand man of Civil Administration Justice and Land Registration Staff Officer Tomer Carmi, whose authorization is required for any such transaction.

Around two weeks ago, Carmi approved al-Atari's request to take homes files on around 30 real-estate transactions as he had been unable to finish the work from his office. The following day, al-Atari was taken for investigation by the Palestinian Authority in Jericho, and he has not been back at work since.

As no copies, digital or otherwise, of the files in al-Atari's possession exist, the Civil Administration no longer has any evidence of the existence of these real-estate transactions. This could result in losses amounting to millions of shekels for those parties involved as well as expose the Defense Ministry to tort claims. In addition, the fact that the files, which include the names of those selling the land, some of whom have collaborated with Israel, are now in the PA's hands could put the sellers' lives in danger.

The last time al-Atari was kidnapped by Palestinian forces, he was tortured and went missing for months.

Despite al-Atari having clearly given information to the PA and warnings from the Shin Bet and the state comptroller that due to the sensitive information he had access to al-Atari would be a target for blackmail, the Civil Administration decided to promote him to a more senior position.

In a statement, the office of the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Ghasan Alyan said: "The subject is still under review by professionals in the Civil Administration, with the relevant officials in the Palestinian Authority. The employee is not involved in transactions involving Israelis, therefore there are no concerns information on land sales to Israelis could be leaked.

Right-wing politicians were quick to criticize the incident.

Yamina MK Amichai Chikli tweeted: "This publication is earth-shattering. A senior employee of the Civil Administration in possession of sensitive material was kidnapped by the PA. The significance: The Civil Administration that de facto runs Judea and Samaria has an intelligence breach and is being influenced from the inside by the PA. This cannot be ignored. I will demand an urgent discussion of the issue at the [Knesset] Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee."

Likud MK May Golan told Israel Hayom: "This is a huge failure by the Civil Administration. Following the publication by Ad Kan, it has come to the public's attention that a Palestinian citizen with a senior role in the Civil Administration has been kidnapped by the PA over sensitive information in his possession. It is strictly forbidden to allow the administration's control of the territories in Judea and Samaria to be at the mercy of the PA. Forbidden. I will submit an urgent proposal on the subject. I will not allow the head of the government of crooks to get out of giving answers on such an important and critical subject."

Far-right Otzma Yehudit party head Itamar Ben-Gvir said: "This is a security failure that abandons classified information to the enemy. The finger must be pointed at the Civil Administration, which collaborated with the enemy and did not prevent the delivery of the documents. Therefore, an investigation must be opened, lessons must be learned, and the guilty parties must be punished to the full extent of the law.

Religious Zionism Party MK Michal Woldiger said, "It's not just that [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett is allowing his government's ministers to meet with the Holocaust denier and terrorist Abu Mazen [PA President Mahmoud Abbas], worse still, he is silent in the face of this terrible reality that includes the kidnapping of a senior Civil Administration official. Mr. Bennett … your silence in the face of this declaration of war exposes the people of Israel to great threats.

Maurice Hirsch, a former senior military jurist also took to Twitter following the report.

"From failure to failure, without learning a thing. For those who don't understand, the Civil Administration is one of the most dangerous bodies for the people of Israel's future in the land of Israel. For years, the body sees itself as more responsible for building the Palestinian terrorist state than promoting the return of Jews to the Land of Israel," he tweeted.

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The Jerusalem Municipality will increase its secular and national religious population, Mayor Moshe Lion said Sunday.

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Speaking at an urban renewal conference of the Israel Construction Center attended by local authority heads, entrepreneurs, and leading professionals in the real estate field, Lion asserted that "Jerusalem is the State of Israel's capital of opportunity. Now is the time to invest and believe in the city, through relatively small investments, a lot of money can be made here."

He said that "ultimately, my goal is to get to a strong Jerusalem. I want to grow, and for that, it [the city] needs more and more residents. I want to get to 10,000 housing units a year. We're talking about a huge city. A lot of urban renewal, construction on empty lots, and a lot of employment."

Some 950,000 people reside in Jerusalem, more than twice the population of Tel Aviv. Just one-third of Jerusalem's population belongs to the secular or national-religious sector.

"We want to grow the city, and the number of secular and national religious residents in particular because that is the most productive sector," Lion explained.

"To that end, we are making every effort to cut bureaucracy to zero. Last year, we noticed there weren't enough construction permits. Up until now, the average stood at 2,000 new construction [projects] a year, and this year, we will cross the 4,000 threshold," he said.

According to Lion, buildings 30-stories high will be built along the route of the Jerusalem light rail.

"Jerusalem is going to grow, and for that, it needs more and more residents," he concluded.

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The Swiss bank's "Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2019" measures housing prices in 24 large cities worldwide. This year's index included, for the first time, Madrid, Moscow, and Tel Aviv, listed as cities with high housing prices, as well as Dubai, where prices are listed as "balanced."

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According to UBS, among the cities covered by the index, Tel Aviv has seen the largest housing price increases in the past 30 years.

The report found that home prices in Tel Aviv rose almost consistently from 2003-2017, which caused the market to enter a "bubble price range."

However, the report said, the growing difficulty of purchasing an apartment and the rise in mortgage prices led to an actual price drop of almost 10%.

"The party is over," the UBS report declared, explaining that housing prices in Tel Aviv were "approaching normal."

Middle-and-upper-class Israelis need to work for 11 years to be able to afford a 60-square-meter (650 square-foot) apartment in central Tel Aviv, similar to the years required to buy a home in Tokyo or New York, but less than Hong Kong and more than are needed to buy a home in Munich, Moscow, Frankfurt, or plenty of other major cities.

Tel Aviv is ranked 13^th on the list of the world's "bubble cities" – cities in which housing prices are outrageous and have the most chance of seeing their real estate bubbles burst.

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The report attributed the rise in the amount of new mortgages to an increased number of new mortgages taken out under the government-subsidized Mehir Lemishtaken ("Move-In Price") program for first-time homebuyers. Under the terms of Mehir Lemishtaken, buyers are allowed to take out a mortgage for up to 90% of the price of an apartment valued up to 1.3 million shekels ($370,000), in contrast to a minimum down payment of 25% required to take out a mortgage under general terms.

The Finance Ministry launched the 90% mortgage terms in 2018, hoping to help new homebuyers, especially young families, find a solution to surging property values.

Near-zero interest rates have made housing a top investment in Israel. Israel's home prices have more than doubled in the past decade to an average of about NIS 1.5 million ($430,000).

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Currently, there are some 14.5 million Jews worldwide, approximately 6.5 million of whom live in Israel.

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The phenomenon is particularly prominent among French Jews, many of whom have made aliyah in the past few years out of fear they would be in danger if they remained in France.

According to David Refael, a real estate agent who founded the Refael Group, this means that demand for Israeli real estate will remain high. Refael noted that the same process takes place with every wave of aliyah. Prior to the massive influx of Jews from the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the average price of an apartment in Israel was some 300,000 shekels. The "Russian aliyah" caused home prices to triple, Refael said.

"Israeli developers should take advantage of the fact that it [the Israeli real estate market] serves a lot more people than actually live in the country, and take advantage of the opportunities before them – opportunities that, unfortunately, are the result of growing anti-Semitism and a growing sense of insecurity many of the Jews who live abroad feel," Refael observed.

Moti Iloze of RE/MAX in Netanya, said, "This year, we are feeling an uptick in purchases of homes by Jews from abroad at a significant rate, which is having an obvious effect on the market. We sold three apartments to foreign Jews this week alone. One from Russia, one from France, and another from Britain.

"The Russian buyer never even came to Israel, we showed her the apartment on a live stream and she bought it on the spot," Iloze said.

"This uptick is unusual, because last year, apartments in Netanyahu weren't selling so quickly. Now they are. It's definitely affecting the market."

Diaspora Jews tend to prefer the more high-end areas of the Israeli real estate landscape, along the coastline, and therefore those markets are mainly the ones affected by what Diaspora Jewry are experiencing in their home countries.

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Sotheby's, founded in London in 1744, is the oldest company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. If the deal is approved by shareholders and regulators, Sotheby's would become a privately held company for the first time in more than three decades.

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The New York company, which started in London, holds auctions in 10 salesrooms worldwide with annual sales turnover exceeding $4 billion.

It reported an adjusted profit last year of close to $130 million and revenue of more than $1 billion.

"Sotheby's is one of the most elegant and aspirational brands in the world, Drahi said. "As a longtime client and lifetime admirer of the company, I am acquiring Sotheby's together with my family."

Drahi, 54, is the founder and controlling shareholder of Altice, which provides telecommunications services in France and elsewhere. The French billionaire has expanded his telecom and media operations internationally, with businesses in Portugal, Israel, the US and the Dominican Republic. Altice bought the New York-area Cablevision cable company in 2015.

Drahi, through his BidFair USA company, will pay $57 per share, a 61% premium to the Sotheby's closing stock price Friday.

"This acquisition will provide Sotheby's with the opportunity to accelerate the successful program of growth initiatives of the past several years in a more flexible private environment," Sotheby's CEO Tad Smith said in a prepared statement.

"Now the company can become more flexible and nimble as a privately-held enterprise and it will be interesting to see the changes that will be made," said Abigail Asher, a partner at international art consultants Guggenheim, Asher.

Sotheby's counterpart in London, Christie's, founded by James Christie in 1766, was sold to another French businessman, François Pinault, in the late 1980s. It was also taken private.

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